Remote control apparatus for a stamping mechanism



1962 A. M. BROWN ETAL 3,049,992

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS FOR A STAMPING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 6, 1958 5wv m 222,232 @2232 INVENTORS ALVIN M. BROWN JOHN S. AYERS ROBERT L.SHIELDS JOHN M. MALONEY JACOB KMIEC K BY MM w m w m m w m s. v\|l||l..l/|| m m m\ N m mm o 3 mm m N w 0 n N mm 10:5 mokom ww 6 2 5mozEnmFw mm m N t J 1 n United States Patent Q This invention relates tocontrol apparatus and more in particular to control apparatus for thepreselection and automatic arrangement of a stamping mechanism locatedin an area remote from the control station.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a control apparatusby means of which a selection of a particular combination of characterson a set of stamping dies may be established prior to the automaticoperation of resetting the stamping dies.

Another object is to provide a control apparatus of the above type whichmay be operated at a station which is remote from both the area of thedie arranging operation and from the stamping operation.

Another object is to provide a control apparatus of the above type whichincludes a separate rotary means for arranging each individual rotarystamping die in a selected position by a stepping action which makesavailable an accurate knowledge of the positions of all the dies at aremote station at all times.

A further object is to provide a control apparatus of the above typewhich includes rotary means adapted to make individual direct meshingengagements with the respective rotary stamping dies and provide therebya positive driving action for the operation of arranging said dies.

Still another object is to provide in a control apparatus of the abovetype a reliable ratchet mechanism which will uner-ringly advance thecharacters on each rotatable stamping die in a rapid stepping actionuntil the particular characters preselected at the remote station arepresented in the stamping face.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the :following specificationwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein thesingle figure is a diagrammatic view showing schematically theelectrical circuit and associated fluid pressure system for operating asingle rotary stamping die, the actuating mechanism being shown mainlyin diagrammatic vertical section.

As indicated by broken lines in the drawing, the remote controlapparatus embodying this invention comprises an actuating mechanism 1,the operation of which is controlled by a stepping relay 2, whoseoperation is determined by the position of a selector switch 3.

The actuating mechanism -1 comprises a fluid pressure operated actuatingcylinder 4 which is of the double acting type, having a piston 5 whichdivides said cylinder into opposite chambers 6 and 7. These chambers 6and 7 are connected by way of pipes 8 and 9, respectively, to a doublemagnet valve 10, which also constitutes a part of the actuatingmechanism 1.

i The magnet valve 10 comprises a casing having a spool valve 1-1slidably mounted therein so as to define 'a central, annular chamber12which is always open through a pipe 13 to a supply reservoir 14 chargedwith fluid under pressure. At the left-hand side of the spool valve 11,as viewed in the drawing, is a chamber 15 which is always open toatmosphere by way of a passage 16 and continually connected by way of apassage 17 in the casing to a chamber 18 at the right-hand side of spoolvalve 11. The left-hand side of the spool valve 11, as viewed in thedrawing, is connected by means of a stem "ice 19 to the armature of asolenoid 20, which, when energized, actuates said valve to the positionshown in which the supply reservoir 14 is connected to chamber 6 in thecylinder 4 by way of pipe 13, chamber 12 and pipe 8, and, the oppositechamber 7 in the cylinder 4 is opened to atmosphere by way of pipe 9,chamber 18, passage '17, chamber 15 and passage 16. The righthand sideof the spool valve 11 is connected by means of a stem 21 to the armatureof a solenoid 22 so that, when solenoid 22 is energized, supplyreservoir 14 is connected to chamber 7 in the cylinder 4 by Way of pipe13, chamber 12 and pipe 9, and, the opposite chamber 6 in the cylinder 4is opened to atmosphere through pipe 8, chamber 15 and atmosphericpassage 16.

The inner terminals of both solenoids 20 and 22 are connected to anelectrical conductor 23 which leads to the collector side of theselector switch 3. The outer terminal of solenoid 29 is connected by aconductor 24 to one contact of a trip switch indicated by a dash line at25, the other contact of which is connected by a conductor 26 to oneterminal of a toggle switch 27. The outer terminal of the solenoid 22 isconnected by a conductor 28 to one terminal of a trip switch indicatedat 29, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor 30 to oneside of a stepping coil 31, the other side of which is connected :toconductor 26. Both switches have a delayed opening action so that ashort period of time must elapse before either one reopens after beingclosed to maintain the circuit until piston 5 has almost completed itstravel in a particular direction. The trip switch 25 is arranged to beclosed by a bridging contact 32 carried on a stem 33 on the left-handside of piston 5 when said piston is at the left-hand end of its travel,as viewed in the drawing, which is its normal position. The trip switch29 is arranged to be closed by a bridging contact 34 carried on a stem35 on the right-hand end of piston 5 when, said piston is at theright-hand end of its travel.

With the trip switch 25 closed as shown in the drawing and conductor 23energized a circuit may be established which will energize the solenoid29 and thereby actuate the spool valve 11 through the medium of stem 19toward its left-hand position in which it is shown. In this position ofspool valve 11, chamber 6 will be supplied with fluid under pressure andchamber 7 will be vented to atmosphere by the routes described above. Inresponse to pressure of fluid in chamber 6, piston 5 will shift towardits right-hand position. In the right-hand position of piston 5, tripswitch 29 will be closed, thereby establishing a circuit that willenergize solenoid 22. The solenoid 22 will then actuate spool valve 11through the medium of the stem 21 to its right-hand position, in whichposition chamber 7 will be supplied with fluid under pressure andchamber 6 will be vented to atmosphere by the routes previouslydescribed. Pressure of fluid in chamber 7 will return the piston 5 tothe position in which it is shown, whereupon the same cycle ofreciprocation will be repeated. Thus, so long as conductor 23 remainsenergized, pistonS will be conditioned at the end of each stroke formovement in the opposite direction by closing either trip switch 25 ortrip switch 29 according to the direction of travel.

The reciprocating motion of piston 5 may be trans.- ferred by anextension of stem 35 to an operating bar 36 of a ratchet mechanism 37which constitutes a part of the actuating mechanism 1. This operatingbar 36 is adapted to rotate a ratchet wheel 38 through the angulardistance equal to the displacement of one tooth for each reciprocatingcycle of the bar. The ratchet wheel 38 is arranged to mesh directly witha rotary die 39, such as that shown and described in our copendingpatent application for improvements in a Stamping Mechanism, U.S. SerialNo. 737,041, filed May 22, 1958. Teeth 40 on the ratchet 3 wheel 38 arespaced apart so as to fit into notches 41 between a plurality ofcharacters 42, preferably numerals 1 to 9, inclusive, and 0, and revolvethem about a shaft 43 until the proper one is in the contact area of thestamp ing face. There is a detent 44 for each ratchet wheel 38 rockablymountedon a fixed pin 45 anchored in the casing of the ratchet mechanism37 and is normally held in position to prevent rotation of the ratchetwheel 38 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in the drawing, by across rib portion 46 of the associated bar 36, which is one of aplurality of such bars slidably mounted in the casing of the mechanism.In the normal position shown in the drawing, the cross bar 46 bearsagainst an upper projection of the detent 44 and holds the same againstrotation in a crosswise direction. A driving pawl 47 is rockablysuspended on each of a series of pins 48 fixed on bars 36 and disposedin a cavity 49 so that it is free to rock clockwise as it is carried tothe right until it engages a stop pin 50 fixed inthe casing. A guide 51is formed in the casing for returning each of the pawls 47'to itsoperative position as the bar 36 moves toward its normal position at theleft as viewed in the drawing. As the die 39 is brought into theposition for being reset, the stems 52 of a keeper bar 53 will contactthe frame of the mechanism 1, and move the keeper bar 53 downward out oflocking engagement with a notch 41 in the die 39. 7

It will now be seen that as the operating bar 36- is shiftedhorizontally by the piston first to the right and then to the left, theassociated die 39 will rotate clockwise through an angle equal to thespace between two adjacent notches 41. As the bar 36 is shifted to theright, the pawl 47 will contact the front side of the adjacent tooth 4Gto the right to be advanced next and will be rocked thereby in aclockwise direction as it passes over said tooth to its righthandposition. At the same time a pin 54, carried in a cavity 55 in the bar36, will contact an upright arm of the detent 44 which projects intosaid cavity so as to rock the detent clockwise about the pin 45 and outof the path of travel of the teeth 40'. As the bar 36 is shifted back tothe left, the pawl 47 will engage the next tooth 40 after the one justpreviously advanced, and move it to the left while rotating the ratchetwheel. 38 counterclockwise. Afterthe wheel 38 has started to rotatecounterclockwise, the pin 54 will move away from the detent 44-,allowing the detent to drop into the following space between two teeth40. When the detent drops into position and engages the left-hand orfront side of a tooth 40, the wheel 38 will have rotated a distanceequivalent to the distance between two teeth 40. This distance will beenough to move the next character 42 into the stamping area. The pawl 47will now be in contact both with the back of the advanced tooth 40 andthe rib portion 46 separating the cavities 49 and 55. Thus the wheel 38will be prevented from rotating counterclockwise by the detent 44 andclockwise by the pawl 47. This reciprocating action of the piston 5 andthe attached bar 36 may be continued until the desired character 42 isrotated into the stamping area as determined by the operation of thestepping relay 2 under the control of the selector switch 3. 5

It willbe noted that when the pawl 47 engages a tooth I 40 while thepawl 47 is being shifted toward the left that tact arms 56 and 57 joinedtogether on a common shaft indicated by a dash line 58 for operation ina stepping action produced in the usual manner by the; stepping coil 31.The stepping coil 31 is connected at onejside to the trip switch 29 bythe conductor 30, while the other side is connected to one side of thetoggle switch 27 by a branch of the conductor 26. The other side of theswitch 27 is connected to the negative side of an electric currentsource 59 by a conductor 60 which also leads to one side of a positionindicator light 61. This indicator light 61 may be composed of a seriesof illuminating elements 62 formed in the configurations of the numerals1 to 9, inclusive, and 0, a particular one of which is lighted at eachstepping position of the contact arm 56. The elements 62 may betranslucent and superimposed one upon the other so that only theilluminated one will appear in the indicating frame, which consequentlywill have to be only large enough to encompass one numeral. Theilluminating elements 62 have a common connection 63 to the conductor 60while each of the other terminals 64 is connected by its individualconductor 65 to its particular one of the series of contacts 66 arrangedin a semi-circle for engagement by the outer end of the pivoted contactarm 56, which, together with the contact arm 57, is connected at itspivoted end to the positive side of the electric source 59* by aconductor 67. A series of contacts 68 are arranged in a similar mannerfor engagement by the contact arm 57, each of which is connected by itsindividual conductor 69 to its particular contact 70 in the selectorswitch 3.

The ten contacts 70 of the selector switch 3 are arranged in a circlefor engagement by a rotatable collector ring 71 connected to theconductor 23. This collector ring 71 has a segment broken out, leaving agap 72 in the ring 71 so that only nine contacts 71 can be engaged bythe ring 71 at any one time. As will appear more fully later, thecontact 70 that is left open determines the position in which thecontrol apparatus and the stamping die 39 will come to rest. Theposition of the gap 72 may be selected by a rotatable index knob 73positively connected by means of a shaft, indicated by the dash lines at74, to the collector ring 71. The numerals l to 10, inclusive, arrangedin a circle about the index knob 73 indicate the positions ofthe die 39,of which one may be selected to which the die will be rotated in thenext indexing operation.

It is desirable that the position of the stamping die 39 corresponds tothe position of the stepping relay 2. That is, the numeral on thecharacter 42 in the stamping area of the die 39 is the same as thenumber on the contacts 66 and 68 in the associated stepping relays. Asshown in the drawing, the selected numeral is 1. With the index 7, knob73 pointing to the numeral 1, the'gap 72 in the connected collector ring71 is located at #1 of its contacts 70. Since the contact arm 57 of thestepping relay 2 is also at #l of its contacts 68, thereby connectingthe source 59 to #1 of contacts 70' through conductors 67 and 69, thecircuit from the stepping relay 2 to the solenoids 20 and 22 of themagnet valve 10 is open as shown in the drawing. Consequently nostepping action will take place at this time when the toggle switch 27is closed. Since the circuit for the indicator light 61 is independentof the switch 27, and the contact arm 56 engages #1 of its contacts 66,the numeral 1 will be illuminated in the frame of the indicating light61, showing that the numeral 1 is in stampingposition on the die 39'. Itshould be understood that in the normal position of the piston 5 thetrip 7 switch 25 is closed and the trip switch 29 is open as shown inthe drawing. a

Let it be assumed that the knob 73 of the selector switch 3 is turnedtoposition #2. The gap 72 in the collector ring 71 will likewise beturned thereby to #2 of contacts 70, at the same time connecting #1 ofcontacts 70 to collector ring 71. Now, when the toggle switch 27 isclosed, a circuit is established leading from the positive side of thesource 59 through conductor 67 to the contact arm 57 and #1 of contacts68, thence through #1 of condoctors 69 to #1 of contacts 70 in selectorswitch 3, conductor 23, solenoid 20, conductor 24, closed switch 25,

conductor 26, switch 27, and conductor 60 to the negative side of thesource 59. With the solenoid 20 thus energized, spool valve 11 is drawnto its left-hand position shown in the drawing, in which fluid underpressure is supplied from reservoir 14 to chamber 6 in the actuatingcylinder 4 and fluid under pressure in chamber 7 is vented toatmosphere, as previously described in connection with the operation ofthe magnet valve 10. In response to pressure of fluid in chamber 6, theoperating bar 36 is actuated toward the right by piston 5 and stem 35,releasing the detent 44 by means of the pin 54 and carrying the pawl 47over the next tooth 40 to be advanced. As the piston 5 reaches the endof its stroke in the right-hand direction, the trip switch 25 is openedby delayedaction and the trip switch 29 is closed by a suitablelost-motion connection (not shown). The solenoid 22 is then energized bya circuit completed from the conductor 23 by way of switch 29, conductor30, stepping coil 31, conductor 26, switch 27, and conductor 60' to thenegative side of the source 59. Spool valve 11 Will then be actuated toits right-hand position, in which fluid under pressure in chamber 6 willbe vented to atmosphere and chamber 7 will be supplied with fluid underpressure from supply reservoir 14. In response to fluid pressure inchamber 7, piston 5 will actuate the operating bar 36 toward the left ina return stroke, advancing the wheel 38 by one tooth 40' and therebyadvancing one character 42 on the die 39. In this case, the character 42advanced into stamping position will bear the numeral 2. At the end ofthe return stroke of the bar 36 the detent 44 and pawl 47 will assurnethe positions in which they are shown in the drawing. As previouslynoted, clockwise rocking of the detent 44 and pawl 47 is prevented bythe rib 46 and guide 51, respectively, and counterclockwise rocking ofsame by the wheel 38 and rib 46, respectively.

Now, when the solenoid 22 was energized, the stepping coil 31 was alsoenergized since it is connected in series with solenoid 22. Thisenergization will cause the relay 2 to prepare to advance the contactarms 56 and 57 through one step. When the piston 5 nears the end of itsstroke, the stepping coil 31 will be deenergized by the interruption ofthe energizing circuit at the opening of the switch 29 as the piston 5nears the end of its return stroke.

Deenergizati on of the stepping coil 31 will cause the contact arms 56and 57 to advance to #2 positions of engagement With contacts 66 and 68,respectively. Thus, advancing arm 56 from #1 to #2 position to changethe indicating light 61 to #2 of the elements 62 will be substantiallyconcurrent with the advancing of the character bearing the numeral 2into stamping position. Advancing the contact arm 57 to engagement with#2 of the contacts 68 will at the same time connect #2 of conductors 69to #2 of the contacts 70 in the selector switch 3. However, since thegap 72 is now at #2 position, the condoctor 23 will not be energized andtherefore, actuating mechanism 1 will remain positioned as shown in thedraw- If the index knob 73 is turned to the numeral 6, for example, thestepping procedure just described will be repeated five times until thestepping relay contact arm 57 reaches position #6 in which theenergizing circuit through the selector switch 3, is open at the gap 72which is positioned at #6 of contacts 70. Briefly, solenoid 20 will beenergized, piston 5 will actuate the operating bar 36 to the right,picking up another tooth on the gear wheel 38 and closing trip switch29, whereupon solenoid 22 will be energized, piston 5 will actuate theoperating bar 36 to the left, advancing one tooth 40 on the gear Wheel38, and thereby one character 42 on the die 39. The stepping coil 31will be energized at the end of the piston stroke to the right and willbe deenergized near the end of the piston stroke to the left, therebyadvancing the relay one step to a new position for energizing a newcycling circuit to the selector switch '3. At the end of the returnstroke of the piston 5 toward the left, the trip switch 25 will beclosed again for the start of another reciprocating cycle until thestepping relay 2 connects with a conductor 69 leading to the gap 72 inthe selector switch 3. At this time the cycling will cease and theselected numeral will be in stamping position on the die 39.

It will be seen, therefore, that the marking die is rotated in onedirection only in increments each of which is sufficient to bring thenext character on the die into marking position. The manually operableselector switch is set to bring a selected character into markingposition. The operating mechanism for rotating the marking die includesthe indexing gear or ratchet wheel 38 and driving pawl 3 with itsassociated operating bar 36, piston and cylinder. This actuating meansis controlled by electromagnetic valve 18 and the circuit for such valvewhich includes the manual selector switch, the trip switches 25 and 29,and the stepping relay, the arrangement being such that the steppingrelay is advanced by the operation of the actuating mechanism to openthe circuit to the electromagnetic control valve 18 and thereby preventfurther operation of the actuating mechanism until the manual selectorswitch has again been operated. The actuating means for turning themarking die therefore operates continuously when the electromagneticvalve circuit is closed to advance the indexing wheel and the markingdie in increments, and to also advance the stepping relay until thestepping relay opens the circuit. The operation stops when the circuitis thus opened.

It should be understood that the unit that has been shown and describedabove is rarely, if ever, used singly, but is used in a set of aplurality such as six, or more, which may be controlled at a consolewhere the selector switch 3 and indicator light 61 for each circuit ismounted in a position corresponding to the relative positions of theassociated die in the stamping head. With the toggle switch 27 open, theknobs 73 of these switches may be set in the same order as the desirednumber to be stamped. This number may be retained in readiness for thedie arranging operation until the set of dies 39 rotatably mounted in asuitable frame (not shown) is carried into meshing engagement with therespectively matching ratchet wheels 38. With the closing of the toggleswitch 27, the operation for arranging the dies 39 in the preselectedorder on the array of the selector switches 3 is set in motion andcarried out to completion, which is reached when each stepping rel-ayhas effected a reciprocating cycle of the actuating mechanism for eachstep until each relay registers with the respective gap 72 in therespective selector switch 3.

Having now described our invention what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a control apparatus for a stamping mechanism having a rotatableannular die with a plurality of characters spaced evenly around theperiphery thereof, a

ratchet mechanism comprising a gear wheel for operatively engaging arotary die for advancing the characters thereon one step at a time, areciprocating bar for actuating said gear wheel, a pawl pivotallymounted on said reciprocating bar for advancing said-wheel, said pawlhaving a driving arm arranged to pass over a tooth on said wheel duringmovement of said bar in a priming direction and to make drivingengagement with the same tooth upon return movement of said bar, astationary pin, a stop carried on said bar, said pawl having another armarranged to rock freely in a release direction during the initial partof the priming stroke and to rock said pawl toward its operativeposition near the end of said priming stroke by collision with saidstationary pin and to be prevented from pivoting past its operativeposition in the direction opposite to release direction by said stop, astationary guide for directing said pawl toward its driving positionduring the latter part of the return stroke of said reciprocating barand preventing said pawl from rocking in a direction to permitovertravel of said wheel in an advancing direction, and power means forreciprocating said bar.

2. In a control apparatus for a stamping mechanism having a rotatableannular die with a plurality of characters spacedevenly around theperiphery thereoflpa ratchet mechanism comprising a gear wheel foroperatively engaging said die to advance the characters thereon one at atime, a reciprocating bar for actuating said gear wheel, a pawlpivotally mounted on said reciprocating bar for connecting said bar tosaid wheel, said pawl having a driving arm arranged to pass over thetooth to be advanced next on said wheel during movement of said bar inthe priming direction and to make driving engagement with the same toothupon return movement of said bar, a stationary pin, a stop carried onsaid bar,

said pawl'having another integral arm arranged to rock freely in arelease direction during the initial part of the priming stroke andtorock said pawl toward its operative position near the end'of the primingstroke by collision with said stationary pin and to be prevented frompivoting past its operative position in the opposite direction by saidstop, a detent pivotally mounted in a stationary position between saidbar and said wheel held by said stop on said bar in a normal positionfor preventing rotation of said wheel in an advancing direction and 7with characters about its periphery and rotatable through equalangular'increments to bring a selected character into marking position,a manually operable multiple contact selector switch having a number ofcontacts equal to the number of positions to which the marking die ismovable and having a movable arm selectively movable only by manualoperation into any one of said contacts and which remains in theselected position until manually moved therefrom for selecting thecharacter on said die to be brought into marking position, operatingmeans for rotating the marking die intermittently in one direction onlyin equal angular increments suflicient to bring a diiterent character ofthe marking die into marking position with each increment, electromagnetic means and a circuit therefor connected with the selector switchfor controlling the operation of the operating means so long as saidcircuit is energized, and means actuated by the operating means foropening said circuit when the character selected by the manual selectorswitch has been rotated to marking position.

4, A marking machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the operating meanscomprises a pawl mechanism which is reciprocated and an indexing gearengaged by the pawl with each cycle of reciprocation to rotate saidindexing gear through one increment of movement, said indexing gearbeing engaged with the marking die to move the marking die, fluidpressure means for reciproeating the pawl mechanism, the electromagneticmeans comprising an electromagnetically operated valve for controllingsaid fluid pressure means, the circuit for the electromagnetic valveincluding trip switch means actuated by the travel of the pawl mechanismfor effecting the operation of the electromagnetic valve means.

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